Enriching uranium poses significant risks to human health, the natural environment and is not a solution to climate change; and

Thorium also poses significant risks to human health and the environment.

In Government, WA Labor will:

Oppose the mining and export of uranium;

Oppose nuclear enrichment, nuclear power and otherwise the production of dangerous radioactive waste;

Oppose the storage of nuclear energy waste in Western Australia;

Oppose the testing or use of nuclear weapons in Western Australia or near our coastline;

Encourage local governments to declare themselves ‘Nuclear Free Zones’; and

Ensure that the mining of thorium in Western Australia only occurs under the most stringent environmental conditions and oppose thorium exports to countries that do not observe the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The unsolved problems pertaining to the reprocessing and storage of radioactive wastes and spent plant;

The growing concern about the biomedical effects of even low radiation;

The coupling of nuclear energy and nuclear weapon development;

The added danger of a future plutonium economy and the threats to civil liberties involved in a nuclear economy; and

The fact that Labor policy contained herein on fossil fuels, energy conservation and renewable resources will ensure Western Australian energy self-sufficiency.

WA Labor will:

Reject nuclear power as an option for electricity generation in Western Australia;

Oppose the establishment of a nuclear enrichment facility in the State;

Reject the establishment of nuclear processing plants or the storage of nuclear wastes in the State;

Allow no uranium mining or development in Western Australia; and

Place thorium under the restrictions and conditions applicable to the mining, processing, sale and transportation of uranium currently mined in Australia as outlined in the Resources and Energy section of the National Platform, so far as they relate to nuclear non-proliferation.

The platform recognises WA Labor’s long and continuous opposition to Uranium Mining. The commencement and continuation of any uranium project is inconsistent with WA Labor Policy. WA Labor will accept no obligation to complete approval processes or honour contractual arrangements entered into by a previous government where such approvals or contracts are directed towards an outcome inconsistent with WA Labor’s platform.

International Relations:

Support measures that prevent the use of Australian uranium exports in the proliferation of nuclear weapons or environmental degradation